The account of the transfiguration of Jesus is indeed about His transfiguration. But, in a way, it is also about the transfiguration of everything else.
I like the way the account of the Transfiguration unfolds. Jesus is intentional about revealing something to His disciples. He selects Peter, James, and John and brings them up a high mountain, at a distance from the other disciples. Then, the revelations begin. First, Jesus is transfigured before them. But, if that is not enough, Matthew then begins to startle us with revelation after revelation.
“Behold!” (17:3) Moses and Elijah appear talking with Jesus. Those who were dead are somehow alive. Those who lived at different times are now meeting together. And they are intimate enough with Jesus to be conversing with Him.
“Behold!” (17:5a) A cloud overshadows them. What was clear suddenly becomes clouded. They are all held together, surrounded, bonded in mystery. Moses and Elijah will fade but Jesus will remain and their words will linger.
“Behold!” (17:5b) A voice speaks from the cloud. Suddenly, their attention is directed to Jesus. Jesus brought them up a high mountain, but the Father now brings Jesus to them. They are to see Him as the beloved Son of the Father, and they are to listen to Him.
At that point, Jesus then takes control. First, He touches them. Then, He speaks. First, He awakens them to the mystery of His presence. This Son of God, this beloved of the Father, this one who speaks with the dead who are living in Him, this one who has brought them to this high mountain will not abandon them. He comes near them, in the flesh. And He touches them, like you would touch a child who is frightened to let him know you are near. After touching them, He speaks. They are to rise, to follow, and to not be afraid.
The text is like one of those Russian nesting dolls. You see one thing and then it breaks open and becomes another, and this continues until you are back at the beginning, walking away with more than you ever imagined in your hands.
In preaching this text, it is interesting that we tend to focus on Peter. We identify with his clumsiness. We can understand his fear. But if we turn our attention too much to Peter, we end up missing the very thing Jesus brought His disciples to the heights of the mountain to see. We end up missing the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God in human flesh.
But if we turn our attention too much to Peter, we end up missing the very thing Jesus brought His disciples to the heights of the mountain to see.
If we listen to the “beholds” and if we focus on divine action, we see so much mystery and revelation surrounding the person of Jesus. Jesus lives in time and in eternity. He speaks with Moses and Elijah, those formidable figures who abide in our memory. He brings us into the mystery of God and God, the Father, brings Him to us as the living voice of Heaven. The beloved one of God, this eternal beloved Son of the heavenly Father is the one who touches us with His hand and assures us of His love.
The account of the transfiguration of Jesus is indeed about His transfiguration. But, in a way, it is also about the transfiguration of everything else. Suddenly, this world is filled with mystery. The eternal God walks among us. He is close enough to touch us. He assures us that we need not be afraid.
Matthew begins the account by saying, “After six days” (17:1). What happened six days ago? Jesus made the passion predication. When Jesus is betrayed by one of his disciples, when Jesus is abandoned by the others, when Jesus is physically taken by the religious leaders and turned over to the authorities of Rome, when Jesus becomes a political liability and His death a tragic injustice, an instance of collateral damage, the price Pilate pays for maintaining his rule, we are to know that there is more here than meets the eye.
“Behold!” The beloved Son of God has come to die for you. The beloved Son of God will rise because He is eternally in love with you. He will speak to and through the prophets, to and through your pastors and teachers, to and through your parents and children, and to and through you.
The world is not merely a place you pass through, an unclaimed piece of real estate on which you can make your mark. It is the holy place of God, inhabited by angels, awaiting an eternal recreation where God will come and dwell again with you in the midst of all His people.
There is so much more to this account of the Transfiguration than the stumbling errors of Peter. For that reason, we read it year after year so we can hear its invitation to see Jesus and His world anew. “Behold!”
--------
Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out 1517’s resources on Matthew 17:1-9.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching Matthew 17:1-9.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
